Phalaenopsis orchid plant named &#39;DREAMER&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘Dreamer’ particularly characterized by flowers which are purple/violet with a darker purple/violet labellum; plants which may be propagated economically and uniformly using tissue culture; plants which produce more than one inflorescence; long and sturdy inflorescences; and relatively short, dark-green foliage.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Phalaenopsis hybrida

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Dreamer’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceae family, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Dreamer’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 55 species of herbaceous perennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable for cultivation in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantly epiphytic or rock-dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the Malay Archipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy, oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodial growth), which vary in size from 5 to 8 inches to over 2 feet. The leaves may be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in the horticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for the florist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home or interiorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes, often with many showy flowers which open in succession beginning with the lowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; the lateral ones being alike. The lowermost petal, called the labellum, is three-lobed and is often more brightly-colored than the other flower segments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellow and red-brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexual propagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots which frequently arise from the lower bracts of the inflorescence. The resulting plants are detached from the mother plant and may be planted in a suitable substrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Dreamer’ is a product of a controlled breeding program conducted by the inventor, Rene Schoone, in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a new Phalaenopsis cultivar particularly characterized by its attractive and unique colored flowers, economical propagation via tissue culture, rapid growth, and a plant dimension suitable for packaging and shipping to the market.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Dreamer’ originated from a cross made by the inventor in 2000 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The female or seed parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Luchia Pink’, unpatented. The male or pollen parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘(Otohime×Yukimai)’, unpatented. The new Phalaenopsis ‘Dreamer’ was discovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in 2008 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis cultivar by tissue culture was first performed in November, 2008 in Cieweg 13, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar asexually reproduces true-to-type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘Dreamer’, which in combination distinguish this Phalaenopsis as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. flowers which are purple/violet with a darker purple/violet labellum;

2. plant produces more than one inflorescence;

3. plants may be propagated economically and uniformly using tissue culture;

4. inflorescences are long and sturdy; and

5. relatively short, dark-green foliage.

In comparison with the parental cultivars of ‘Dreamer’, the female parent ‘Luchia Pink’ has purple flowers and they are about 11 cm in size, the male parent ‘(Otohime×Yukimai)’ has white colored flowers and they are about 11 cm high, whereas the flowers of ‘Dreamer’ are purple/violet and are about 10 cm high.

Presently, the parental cultivars, to which a comparison has been provided above, are the most commercially similar to ‘Dreamer’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Phalaenopsis ‘Dreamer’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of ‘Dreamer’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of a typical flowering plant of ‘Dreamer’ in a 12 cm pot, at 16 months of age.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical buds and flowers of ‘Dreamer’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of the typical leaves of ‘Dreamer’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘Dreamer’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘Dreamer’ as grown in a greenhouse in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Initially, the ideal temperature to grow plants of ‘Dreamer’ is 27° C. during the day and at night. Then, during the flowering phase of ‘Dreamer’, the ideal growing temperature is 20-22° C. during the day and 18° C. at night. Light levels for growing ‘Dreamer’ are a minimum of 5,000 lux and a maximum of 10,000 lux. A balanced fertilizer with level of 200 ppm N, 87 ppm P, 168 ppm K is applied. Duration of growth of ‘Dreamer’ from potting size is between 10 and 14 months.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 2007 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately noon in Zaandammerweg, Assendelft, The Netherlands. The age of the ‘Dreamer’ plants described is 12 months after potting.

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrid. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated             ‘Luchia Pink’, unpatented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated             ‘(Otohime×Yukimai)’, unpatented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—tissue culture.         -   Rooting habit and description.—Fleshy; approximately 3 mm-6             mm wide and green (RHS 138A) and greyed/green (RHS 189C) in             color; freely branching. It takes 12 weeks for plants             growing in tissue culture to initiate roots. -   Plant:     -   -   Size at maturity.—Height (from bottom of pot to highest             flower): about 75 cm Spread: about 40 to 70 cm.         -   Growth habit.—standard; green leaves (RHS N137A) and a             relatively normal raceme.         -   Vigor.—moderate.         -   Crop time.—Following asexual propagation, at about 26 weeks             2 leaves appear; at about 30 weeks 3-4 leaves appear; after             a cold treatment of about 4-8 weeks at a temperature of             about 19° C. about 2 racemes with flowers appear. -   Foliage:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 6 to 10 leaves are produced before             flowering.         -   Arrangement and attachment.—half up/horizontal and on two             sides.         -   Overall shape of leaf.—oval, the tip is blunt and             asymmetric.         -   Texture (upper & underside).—smooth and leathery.         -   Pubescence.—none.         -   Mature leaf length.—about 15 to 25 cm.         -   Mature leaf width.—about 7 to 9 cm.         -   Mature leaf thickness.—about 2 mm.         -   Mature leaf color.—upper side: green (RHS N137A) Under side:             green (RHS 137A).         -   Leaf base.—acute.         -   Margin.—entire.         -   Venation.—Pattern: parallel Color of midvein: upper side:             green (RHS N137A) under side: green (RHS 138A). -   Raceme:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—about 1 to 2.         -   Number of flowers per raceme.—about 8 to 18.         -   Length.—about 65 cm.         -   Diameter.—about 5 mm.         -   Strength.—strong.         -   Aspect.—upright.         -   Texture.—glabrous and smooth.         -   Color.—brown (RHS 200A) with yellow/green (RHS 146A).         -   Internode.—Length: about 35 mm. -   Inflorescence description: -   Appearance: upright to slightly pendant, racemose inflorescence with     bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open in succession beginning     with the lowermost flower. -   Buds:     -   -   Height (from base to tip).—about 25 mm.         -   Diameter (at midpoint).—about 18 mm.         -   Shape.—oval.         -   Color.—purple (RHS N77B) with yellow/green (RHS 146D). -   Flowering time: For an untreated plant (flowering plant that has not     undergone cold-treatment where the plant grows at a temperature of     18° C. to 19° C. for about 4 to 8 weeks after a period of about 30     weeks at a temperature of 25° C.), 2 racemes appear with about 16 to     20 flower buds and flowers per inflorescence. First flowers can be     expected approximately 4 to 6 months after planting a plant with a     leaf diameter of 3 to 5 cm. Flowers persistent. -   Flowering longevity: On the plant: about 4 to 6 months; lastingness     of cut flowers: has not been observed -   Fragrance: no fragrance -   Flower:     -   -   Rate of opening.—Flowers fully opened about 2 to 3 days             after petal and sepal separation.         -   Orientation at opening.—slanted upward and outward.         -   Shape.—Typical shape of Phalaenopsis; see FIG. 2.         -   Size (of single bloom).—Height: about 70 to 95 mm Diameter:             about 80 to 110 mm Depth of tube: about 16 mm. -   Petals:     -   -   Quantity and arrangement.—three petals and three sepals that             are trimerous, overlapping and arranged in 2 whorls. Petals             are more pronounced than sepals.         -   Arrangement.—Inner whorl comprises 3 petals: 2 lateral             petals and labellum.         -   2 lateral petals.—Overall shape: broadly ovate and weakly             cupped Apex: oval/round Margin: entire and weakly undulate             Base: broadly ovate Length: about 60 mm Width: about 50 mm             Texture: Upper surface: smooth and satiny Under surface:             smooth and satiny Color (when fully opened): upper surface:             purple/violet (RHS N80B); at the base and the edges white             (RHS N155C). Under surface: purple/violet (RHS N80D); At             base and at the edges little white (RHS N155C). Labellum:             Overall shape: 3-lobed with 2 prominent callosities at             central junction of the lateral lobes and base of the             midlobe. Lateral lobes of labellum fold upward about the             column; the midlobe extends forward and is terminated by 2             filiform appendages at the apex. Lateral lobes of the             labellum are ovate in shape while the midlobe is triangular             with a bump and a rib on it Margin: entire and weakly             undulate Apex: oval Length: about 20 mm Width (not             flattened): about 24 mm Texture: Upper and under surface:             smooth and satiny Color (when fully opened): Midlobe, upper             surface: main color is a combination of purple (RHS N78A)             and purple/violet (RHS N80A). Corners are greyed/orange (RHS             173A and RHS 173C). Edges are red/purple (RHS 59A). From             base a red/purple line in the center (RHS 59B). Under             surface: Purple (RHS N78A) which runs into RHS N78C. In the             center some white (RHS N155B). Corners are greyed/orange             (RHS 173C) and edges are red/purple (RHS 59A). Lateral             lobes, upper surface: main color is purple/violet (RHS             N80A). At the base some white (RHs N155C) with red/purple             stripes (RHS 59A). Part of the lower edges is greyed/orange             (RHS 173A and RHS 173C). Under surface: main color is             purple/violet (RHS N80A). From base some white (RHS NN155C).             Lower edge some greyed/orange (RHS 173C). Cirrhi: about 11             mm color: purple/violet (RHS N80A) which runs into purple             (RHS N79B) Pestle (Callosities): Length: about 5 mm Width             (not flattened): about 6 mm Color: yellow (RHS 13A) with             red/purple spots (RHS 59A). On the sides also some white             (RHS 155B). -   Sepals:     -   -   Arrangement.—Outer whorl comprises 3 sepals.         -   Overall shape.—elliptical and weakly cupped Margin: entire             and weakly undulate Length: about 45 mm Width: about 35 mm             Apex: oval; lateral little pointy Texture: Upper and under             surface: smooth and satiny Color (when fully opened):             Dorsal, upper surface: main color is purple/violet (RHSN80B             with RHS N80A stripes). Base and edges are white (RHS             NN155C). Under surface: main color is purple/violet (RHS             N80D with vague stripes RHS N80B). Edges are white (RHS             NN155C) and at the base some purple/violet (RHS N80C and RHS             N80B). Lateral, upper surface: main color is purple/violet             (RHS N80B and RHS N80A). At the edges some white (RHS             NN155C). At the base a yellow/green (RHS 145D) and             green/white (RHS 157D) mark with purple/violet spots (RHS             N81A). Under surface: main color is purple/violet (RHS N80D             with vague stripes RHS N80B). Edges are white (RHS NN155C)             and at the base some purple/violet (RHS N80C and RHS N80B).             At the base a yellow/green mark (RHS 146D) and a small             purple/violet mark (RHS N80A). -   Pedicel:     -   -   Length.—about 35 mm.         -   Diameter.—about 3 to 5 mm.         -   Texture.—glabrous and smooth.         -   Color.—At the flower purple (RHS N78B), then yellow/green             (RHS 145D) with greyed/purple (RHS 185C). -   Reproductive organs: -   Arrangement: The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a single,     short structure called the column, possessing one terminal anther     with pollen grains united into a pollinia, which are covered by an     anther cap. The stigma is located under the column behind the     pollinia. The ovary is inferior with three carpels present. The     plant has not produced seed. -   Column:     -   -   Length.—about 8 mm.         -   Diameter.—about 6 mm.         -   Color.—purple/violet (RHS N80A and RHS N80B). -   Pollinia:     -   -   Quantity.—two.         -   Diameter.—about 1 mm.         -   Color.—orange (RHS 24A). -   Ovary:     -   -   Length.—about 4 mm.         -   Diameter.—about 5 mm.         -   Color.—white (RHS NN155C). -   Disease/pest resistance/susceptibility: No specific resistance or     susceptibility observed -   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of about 15° C.     and to a high temperature about 30° C. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named ‘Dreamer’, as illustrated and described herein. 